[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43159-43162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18197]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Guidlines for Architectural and Engineering Documentation
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth revisions to the Secretary of the
Interior's Guidelines for Architectural and Engineering Documentation.
These guidelines are not regulatory and do not set or interpret agency
policy. They are intended to provide technical advice on how to produce
architectural and engineering documentation.
DATES: Guidelines are effective on Tuesday, April 1, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. Blaine Cliver, Chief, HABS/HAER/
HALS, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior,
Washington, DC 20240-0001 (202-354-2159).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Guidelines are prepared under the authority
of section 101(g) and section 110 of the National Historic Preservation
Act of 1966, as amended. The revisions contained herein update the
Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for Architectural and
Engineering Documentation of September 29, 1983 (Federal Register, Vol.
48, No. 190, Thursday, September 29, 1983, pp. 44731-34).
Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for Architectural and
Engineering Documentation
Introduction. The following guidelines provide more specific
procedural and technical information on how to produce architectural
and engineering documentation and outline one approach to meeting the
Secretary of the Interior's Standards. Agencies, organizations or
individuals proposing to approach documentation differently may wish to
review their plans with the National Park Service.
The Guidelines are organized as follows:
Definitions
Goal of Documentation
Content
Quality
Materials
Presentation
Architectural and Engineering Documentation Prepared for Other Purposes
Definitions. The following definitions are used in conjunction with
these guidelines:
Documentation--measured drawings, photographs, histories, or other
media that depict historic buildings, sites, structures, objects or
landscapes.
Field Photography--photography other than large-format photography
(usually 35mm), intended for the purposes of producing documentation.
Field Records--notes of measurements taken, field photographs and
other recorded information intended for the purpose of producing
documentation.
[[Page 43160]]
Large-Format Photographs--photographs taken of historic buildings,
sites, structures, objects, or landscapes where the dimensions of the
negatives are either 4'' x 5'', 5'' x 7'' or 8'' x 10'' and where the
photographs are taken with appropriate means to correct perspective
distortion.
Measured Drawings--drawings produced according to HABS/HAER/HALS
guidelines depicting existing conditions or other relevant features of
historic buildings, sites, structures, objects or landscapes. Measured
drawings are usually produced in ink on an archival material, such as
Mylar.
Written Data--inventory forms, data sheets, historical reports, or
other original, written works of varying lengths that describe a
building, site, structure, object, or landscape and highlight its
historical, architectural, technological, or cultural significance.
Photocopy--a photograph, with large-format negative, of a
photograph or drawings.
Select Existing Drawings--drawings of historic buildings, sites,
structures, objects or landscapes, whether original construction or
later alteration drawings that portray or depict the historic value or
significance.
Sketch Plan--a floor or site plan, usually not to exact scale
although often drawn from measurements, where the features are shown in
proper relation and proportion to one another.
Goal of Documentation. The Historic American Buildings Survey
(HABS), the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), and the
Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) are the national historical
architectural, engineering and landscape documentation programs of the
National Park Service. The goal of HABS/HAER/HALS documentation is to
provide architects, engineers, scholars, preservationists, and
interested members of the public with comprehensive information on the
historical, architectural, technological, or cultural significance of a
building, site, structure, object or landscape. Placed on permanent
deposit at the Library of Congress, HABS/HAER/HALS documentation serves
as a permanent record of the growth and development of the nation's
built environment.
HABS/HAER/HALS documentation usually consists of measured drawings,
large-format photographs and written data that highlight the
significance of a building, site, structure, object or landscape. This
documentation acts as a form of insurance against fires and natural
disasters by permitting the repair and, if necessary, reconstruction of
historic resources damaged by such disasters. It is also used for
scholarly research, interpretation, and education, and it often
provides the basis for enforcing preservation easement. HABS/HAER/HALS
documentation is often the last means of preservation of a property:
when a property is to be demolished, documentation provides future
researchers access to valuable information that otherwise would be
lost.
HABS/HAER/HALS documentation is developed in a number of ways. The
National Park Service regularly employs summer teams of student
architects, engineers, and historians to develop HABS/HAER/HALS
documentation under the supervision of National Park Service
professionals. The National Park Service also produces HABS/HAER/HALS
documentation in conjunction with restoration or other preservation
treatment of historic buildings managed by the National Park Service.
Federal agencies, pursuant to section 110(b) of the National Historic
Preservation Act, as amended, record those historic properties to be
demolished or substantially altered as a result of agency action or
assisted action (referred to as mitigation projects). Finally,
individuals and organizations prepare documentation to HABS/HAER/HALS
standards and donate the documentation to the programs.
The Secretary of the Interior's Standards describe in general terms
the fundamental principals of HABS/HAER/HALS documentation. They are
supplemented by other material describing more specific guidelines,
preferred techniques for architectural photography, and formats for
written historical reports. This technical information is found in the
procedure manuals for the individual programs.
These guidelines contain useful information on how to produce
documentation for other archives, such as state or local archives. The
State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) or the state library should
be consulted regarding archival requirements if the documentation is to
become part of its collection. In establishing archives, the important
questions of durability and reproducibility should be considered in
relation to the purposes of the collection.
Documentation prepared for the HABS/HAER/HALS collections must meet
the requirements below. The HABS/HAER/HALS office of the National Park
Service reserves the right to refuse documentation that does not meet
these requirements.
Content
Standard: Documentation shall adequately explicate and illustrate
what is significant or valuable about the historic building, site,
structure, object or landscape being documented.
Guideline: Documentation shall meet one of the following
requirements for content:
A. Level I
1. Drawings: a full set of measured drawings depicting existing or
historic conditions
2. Photographs: photographs with large-format negatives of exterior
and interior views; photocopies with large-format negatives of select,
existing drawings or historic views that are produced in accordance
with the U.S. Copyright Act (as amended)
3. Written data: history and description
B. Level II
1. Drawings: select existing drawings, where available, may be
photographed with large-format negatives or photographically reproduced
on Mylar in accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act, as amended
2. Photographs: photographs with large-format negatives of exterior
and interior views, or historic views where available and produced in
accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act, as amended
3. Written data: history and description
C. Level III
1. Drawings: sketch plan
2. Photographs: photographs with large-format negatives of exterior
and interior views
3. Written data: short form for historical reports
Commentary. The kind and amount of documentation should be
appropriate to the nature and significance of the subject. For example,
Level I would be inappropriate for a building that is a minor element
of an historic district, notable only for context and scale. A full set
of measured drawings for such a minor building would be expensive and
would likely add little new insight into the growth and development of
the built environment at either the local, regional, or national level.
Large-format photography (Level III) would be the more appropriate
choice for documenting this type of building.
Similarly, the aspect of the building, site, structure, object or
landscape being documented should reflect the subject's overall
significance. For example, measured drawings of Dankmar Adler and Louis
Sullivan's Auditorium
[[Page 43161]]
Building in Chicago should indicate not only facades, floor plans and
sections, but also the innovative structural and mechanical systems
that were incorporated into that building. Large-format photography of
Gunston Hall in Fairfax County, Virginia, to take another example,
should clearly show William Buckland's hand-carved moldings in the
Palladian Room, as well as other views, since Buckland's role in the
creation of the building is one of the reasons why Gunston Hall is
considered architecturally significant.
HABS/HAER/HALS documentation is usually in the form of measured
drawings, photographs, and written data. While the criteria in this
section have addressed only these media, documentation need not be
limited to them. Other media, such as films of industrial processes,
can be--and have been--used to document historic buildings, sites,
structures, objects and landscapes. If other media are to be used, the
HABS/HAER/HALS office should be contacted before recording.
The selection of the appropriate documentation level will vary from
one project to the next. For mitigation documentation projects, this
level will be selected by the National Park Service Regional Office and
communicated to the agency responsible for completing the
documentation. Generally, Level I documentation is required for
nationally significant buildings and structures, defined as National
Historic Landmarks and the primary historic units of the National Park
Service.
On occasion, factors other than significance will dictate the
selection of another level of documentation. For example, if a
rehabilitation of a property is planned, the owner may wish to have a
full set of as-built drawings, even though the property may not merit
Level I documentation.
HABS Level I measured drawings usually depict existing conditions
through the use of a site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections and
construction details. HAER Level I measured drawings will frequently
depict original conditions where adequate historical material exists,
so as to illustrate manufacturing or engineering processes.
Level II documentation differs from Level I by substituting copies
of existing drawings, either original or alteration drawings, for
recently executed measured drawings. If this is done, the drawings must
meet HABS/HAER/HALS requirements outlined below and be free of
copyrights. While existing drawings are rarely as suitable as as-built
drawings, they are adequate in many cases for documentation purposes.
Only when the desirability of having as-built drawings is clear are
Level I measured drawings required in addition to existing drawings. If
existing drawings are housed and preserved in an accessible archival
collection, their reproduction for HABS/HAER/HALS may not be necessary.
In other cases, Level I measured drawings are required in the absence
of existing drawings.
Level III documentation requires a sketch plan if it helps to
explain the structure, site, or landscape. A short historical report
should supplement the photographs by explaining what is not readily
visible.
The HABS/HAER/HALS office reserves the right to refuse
documentation that does not meet these requirements for content.
Quality
Standard: Documentation shall be prepared accurately from reliable
sources with limitations clearly stated to permit independent
verification of the information.
Guideline: Documentation shall meet the following requirements for
quality:
A. Measured drawings: Measured drawings shall be produced from
recorded, accurate measurements. Portions of the building that were not
accessible for measurement should not be drawn on the measured drawings
but clearly labeled as not accessible or drawn from available
construction drawings and other sources. No part of the measured
drawings shall be produced from hypothesis or non-measurement related
activities. Level I measured drawings shall be accompanied by a set of
field notebooks in which the measurements were first recorded. Other
drawings prepared for Levels II and III shall include a statement
describing where the original drawings are located.
B. Large-format photographs: Large-format photographs shall clearly
depict the appearance of the property and areas of significance of the
recorded building, site, structure, object or landscape. Each view
shall be perspective-corrected and fully captioned.
C. Written data: Written history and description for Levels I and
II shall be based on primary sources to the greatest extent possible.
For Level III, secondary sources may provide adequate information; if
not, primary research will be necessary. A frank assessment of the
reliability and limitations of the sources shall be included. Within
the written history, statements shall be footnoted as to their sources,
where appropriate. The written data shall include a methodology section
specifying the name of the researcher, date of research, sources
consulted, and the limitations of the project.
Commentary. The quality of architectural documentation cannot be
easily prescribed or quantified, but it derives from a process in which
thoroughness of research and factual accuracy play a large part, and it
acts, for better or worse, as a measure of the integrity and
reliability of the information. HABS/HAER/HALS promotes documentation
of the highest quality and the principle of independent verification of
all factual information.
The HABS/HAER/HALS office reserves the right to refuse
documentation that does not meet these requirements for quality.
Materials
Standard: Documentation shall be prepared on materials that are
readily reproducible, durable and in standard sizes.
Guideline: The following material requirements shall be met for all
levels of documentation:
A. Measured Drawings
Readily Reproducible: Ink on translucent material, such as Mylar.
Durable: Ink on archival media.
Standard Sizes: Three sizes: 19''x24'', 24''x36'' or 34''x44''
B. Large-Format Black & White Photographs
Readily Reproducible: One print per negative.
Durable: Photography processed and stored according to archival
standards; negatives on safety film only; prints on fiber paper, such
as AZO paper; no resin-coated paper.
Standard Sizes: Three sizes: 4''x5'', 5''x7'' or 8''x10''.
C. Large-Format Color Transparencies
Readily Reproducible: One identical black & white negative and
print per color transparency; one duplicate transparency and
electrostatic or laser copy per color transparency.
Durable: Photography processed and stored according to archival
standards
Standard Sizes: Three sizes: 4''x5'', 5''x7'' or 8''x10''
D. Written History and Description
Readily Reproducible: Clean copy for photocopying
Durable: Archival bond
Standard Sizes: 8\1/2\''x11''
E. Field Records
Readily Reproducible: Field notebooks may be photocopied. Photo
identification sheet shall accompany 35mm negatives and contact sheets.
[[Page 43162]]
Durable: No requirements.
Standard Sizes: Only requirement is that materials can be made to
fit into a 9\1/2\''x12'' archival file folder.
Commentary. All HABS/HAER/HALS materials are intended for
reproduction. Some 20,000 records are reproduced each year by the
Library of Congress. Although field records are not generally
reproduced, they are intended to serve as supplements to the formal
documentation. The basic durability performance standard (that is to
say, life expectancy) for HABS/HAER/HALS materials is 500 years. Ink on
Mylar is believed to meet this standard, while color photography does
not (although color transparencies are acceptable, their life
expectancy is considerably shorter--50 years or less). Field records do
not meet this standard but are maintained in the HABS/HAER/HALS
collections as a courtesy to collections patrons.
The HABS/HAER/HALS office reserves the right to refuse
documentation that does not meet these requirements for materials.
Presentation
Standard: Documentation shall be clearly and concisely produced.
Guideline: The following requirements for presentation shall be met
for all levels of documentation:
A. Measured Drawings: Level I measured drawings shall be lettered
mechanically (i.e., CAD, Leroy or similar) or in a hand-printed
equivalent style. Adequate dimensions shall be included on all sheets.
Level III sketch plans should be neat and orderly.
B. Large-format photographs: Level I photographs shall include
duplicate photographs that include a scale. Level II and III
photographs shall include, at a minimum, at least one photograph with a
scale, usually of the principal facade.
C. Written history and description: Data shall be typewritten or
laser printed on bond, following accepted rules of grammar.
Commentary. The HABS/HAER/HALS office reserves the right to refuse
documentation that does not meet these requirements for presentation.
Architectural and Engineering Documentation Prepared for Other Purposes
Where a preservation planning process is initiated, architectural
and engineering documentation, like other treatment activities, is
undertaken to achieve the goals identified by that process.
Documentation is deliberately selected as a treatment for properties
evaluated as significant, and the development of the documentation
program for a property follows from the planning objectives.
Documentation efforts focus on the significant characteristics of the
historic subject, as defined in the previously completed evaluation.
The selection of a level of documentation techniques (measured
drawings, photography, etc.) is based on the significance of the
subject and the management needs for which the documentation is being
performed. For example, the kind and level of documentation required to
record a historic property for easement purposes may be less detailed
than the kind and level required as mitigation prior to destruction of
the property. In the former case, essential documentation might be
limited to portions of the property controlled by the easement
(exterior facades, for example), while in the latter case, significant
interior architectural features and non-visible structural details
would also be documented.
HABS/HAER/HALS encourages other archives to use the Secretary of
the Interior's Standards and related HABS/HAER/HALS guidelines as a
basis for their own documentation guidelines. Levels of documentation
and the durability and sizes of the items may vary depending on the
intended use of the materials and various storage and preservation
considerations. Review of documentary sources and the periodic
verification of factual information in the documentation are among the
best means of assuring quality. The reliability of the documentation is
only strengthened by an accounting of the limitations of the research
and physical examination of the property, and by retaining the primary
data (field measurements and notebooks) from which the archival record
was produced. The long-term usefulness of the documentation is directly
related to the quality and durability of the materials (ink, paper,
film, etc.) used to record the historic resource.
Dated: March 18, 2003.
E. Blaine Cliver,
Chief.
[FR Doc. 03-18197 Filed 7-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P